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There have been too many posts to FlatChat describing situations where Lot Owners have renovated and otherwise “changed” their Lots without first seeking the written consent of the Owners Corporation, and a few where Owners have sought consent and that’s been improperly granted (e.g. by the Executive Committee).

I’m unconvinced that with the numbers of strata developments in NSW, that contractors are oblivious to the requirements of the Strata Schemes Management Act (1996) with regard to Owners, as their potential customers, needing to seek and obtain the O/C’s consent prior to undertaking certain works.

Does the desire for that work override contractors’ inclination to request to see the O/C’s consent to those works, or is it that a proper consent by the O/C may require the presentation of an appropriate license, insurance, and possibly impose conditions on their work times and their use of Common Property?

I don’t know the answers to the above, and whilst I’m not a advocate for the “nanny state”, I think it’s time for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), as the NSW trades licensing authority, to become more involved.

That might be by way of targeted education / awareness strategies for trades such as refrigeration mechanics, tilers, carpenters, electricians, and plumbers and for the suppliers of the products used by the above.

The OFT’s various “Fact Sheets” are very good, methinks it’s time for another one targeting contractors of the types that typically work on strata properties; perhaps under the existing “Tradespeople” link on the OFT’s website.  

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